Canaveral Marshes

12/7/17 UPDATE: A hiker reported being injured by an aggressive bull along this trail. A cattle lease is in place on this piece of public land.

Covering more than 6,700 acres of marshlands surrounding the meandering flow of the St. Johns River between Christmas and Titusville, Canaveral Marshes Conservation Area surrounds more than 20 miles of the river’s shoreline.

Directions

From I-95 exit 215, Titusville, drive 2.8 miles west on SR 50 to the conservation area entrance on the left, just before the bridge over the St. Johns River. The low sign is easy to miss. The Great Outdoors RV Park no longer allows access to the loop portion of the trail.

Hike

You’ll hear the buzz of airboats nearby while walking the trail system, which primarily follows dikes through the preserve, offering excellent birding and scenic views. The preserve is bisected by the Addison Canal, built in the early 1900s and also visible at Enchanted Forest Sanctuary to the east.

Comments

Guys who have access to the gate are throwing debris and dead animal carcasses in the parking areas to deter people from parking here..and a man who said he works for the helicopter business out here called the police on me for parking! Of course the police said there was no issue with me but what the heck is going on? I love the trail and love to view the wildlife out here but are the property owners upset there is public access or something?? Not right..im very upset..i visit parks all over the state and have never encountered this kind of nonsense

The property owners are you, me, and everyone else in Florida. Please call St. Johns Water Management District and ask to speak to the recreation director in charge of public lands. They are responsible for public access to that property. https://www.sjrwmd.com/lands/recreation/

That’s awful. Please report this incident to St. Johns Water Management District right away, since they are responsible for managing cattle leases on their lands. This is the first we’ve heard of cattle along that trail. Contact Graham Williams, Land Manager @ (407)-977-6290.